Trimming-knife for linotype-machines.



PATENTED OCT. 31, 1905.

J. KEBNAN.

TRIMMING KNIFE FOR LINOTYPE MACHINES.

APPLICATION FILED DEC. 31, 1904.

2 SHEETS-SHEET l.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

TRllVlMlNG-KNIFE FOR LlNOTYPE-MACHINES- Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Oct. 31, 1905.

Application filed December 31, 1904. Serial No. 239,258.

To all whmn it may concern.-

Be it known that I, JOHN KEENAN, a citizen of the United States, and a resident of Buffalo, Erie county, State of New York, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Trimming-Knives for Linotype-Machines, of which the following is a specification.

This invention comprises improvements in trimming-knives for linotype-machines. The knives for trimming the slugs in linotypemachines are usually mounted upon a detachable base known as the knife-block. There are usually two trimming-knives, one fixed and the other adjustable. The adjustable knife is movable toward and from the fixed knife to adapt the knives for trimming slugs of different thicknesses. In some machines one of the knives is also adjustable lengthwise to permit overhanging letters to pass, these overhanging letters being usually set at the end of the slug and commonly known as twoline letters.

The present invention provides for both a longitudinal and lateral adjustment of the movable knife, and it further provides for a double longitudinal adjustment of the movable knife whereby slugs of any desired length having two-line letters may be trimmed.

The invention will be described in detail in connection with the accompanying drawings, in which Figure 1 is a front view of a knife-block provided with my improvements. Fig. 2 is a side view thereof. Fig. 3 is a section on the line 3 3 of Fig. 1. Fig. 4C is a section on the line 4 4 of Figs. 2 and 3, and Fig. 5 is a detail.

Referring to the drawings, indicates the knife-block proper, which is attachable to the frame of the linotype-machine by means of bolts passing through slotted openings 11. The fixed knife 12 is shown broken away and without support, as its supporting means do not affect the present invention. The movable knife 13 is fixed to a slide 14, which is adapted to move longitudinally upon asecond slide 15. The slide 1 1, as shown, is connected with the slide 15 by means of a dovetailed rib 16 and a wear-piece or liner 17. The transverse slide 15 is provided with'fixed ribs 18, which travel in slots in the block 10, and it is connected with the block by screws 19, passing through the slots in the slide, as indicated in Fig. 5.

The lateral adjustment of the movable knifethat is, the adjustment toward and from the fixed knifeis effected by the following means: The ribs 18 are provided in whole or in part with gear-teeth, forming racks. These racks are in mesh with pinions 20 on shafts 21. These shafts are held from longitudinal movement by pins or screws 22, Fig. 2, which enter circumferential grooves 23 in the shafts. On the shafts 21 are fixed arms 24:, which are connected by an adjustable link 25. As shown, the link 25 is in the form of a turnbuckle, having threaded connections with right and left screws 26, which are pivotally connected with the arms 24. The screws are also provided with lock-nuts 27.

On one of the shafts 21 is fixed an adjusting-lever 28. This lever is movable over a dial 29, and it is preferably provided with a spring locking-pin 30, which cooperates with holes 31 in the dial to lock the lever-arm and the shafts 21 in any desired position. The dial 29is pivoted concentric with the lever 28, and it is adjustable about said pivot and may be locked in any desired position by the screw 29*, Figs. 1 and 3. This permits the dial to be adjusted so that the locking-points 31 represent accurately the desired thickness of slugs, such as agate. nonpareil, &c.

The operation of the means for adjusting the knife laterally is as follows: It is essential that the two knives shall be exactly parallel in all of their relations. To secure this parallelism, the lever 28 is locked in position, which looks one of the pinions 20, and therefore one end of the adjustable knife. By means of the turnbuckle 25 the other pinion 20 is then adjusted until the movable knife becomes parallel with the fixed knife. The turnbuckle is then locked by means of the lock-nuts. This adjustment for parallelism need only be made when the knife-block is first connected to the machine or when the knife is accidentally thrown out of adjustment. The usual adjustment for different thickness of slugs is made by swinging the lever 28 to different points on the dial 29.

To provide for the longitudinal adjustment of the knife 13, an elongated rack 32 is connected with the knife-supporting slide 14. Meshing with the rack 32 is a gear 33, which turns on a stud 34, fixed in the knife-block. The teeth of the-rack 32 are much longer than the teeth of the gear 33, thus permitting lateral movement of the rack 32 and the knife 13 without disturbing the engagement of the gear with the rack. Pivoted on the stud 34 is a lever 35, havinga movable tooth 36, adapted to engage with and turn the gear 33 when the lever is moved. The tooth 36 is on a shank 37, extending through the lever and provided at its outer end with a knob 38. The spring 39 is provided for holding the tooth 36 normally in engagement with the gear. The arm 35 is also preferably provided with a spring-latch 40, cooperating with a series of depressions in a segment 41 to hold the gear, and consequently the knife 13, in any desired longitudinal adjustment.

The longitudinal position of the trimmingknife on the block is indicated by a fixed pointer 42, which cooperates with a scale 43 on or connected with the slide 14. Fixed stops or shoulders 44 are arranged on the block to limit the movement of the lever 35. These stops are so spaced that the lever may be moved a sufficient distance in either direction to adjust the knife, so that a two-line letter at either end of the slug may pass.

As previously indicated, Iprovide two longitudinal adjustments for the movable knife. One of these adjustments is to locate the knife in position to trim a slug of any desired length. The other adjustment or movement is for the purpose of permitting a two-line letter to pass. The first adjustment is effected by withdrawing the tooth 36 from the gear 33 and then sliding the knife to a position corresponding to the length of the slug and the end of the slug upon which two-line letters may be formed. IVhen the tooth 36 is withdrawn from the gear, the gear and slide 14 are free to move to any extent, and the slide may be withdrawn from the block, if desired. When the slide is properly located for trimming a particular length of the slug, the tooth 36 is reengaged with the gear. This rengagement should be made in proper relation to the stops 44, so that when the arm is engaged with one stop the knife will be in position to trim an entire slug. To permit a two-line letter to pass, it will then be only necessary to swing the arm 35 away from the stop sufficiently, the distance being noted.

either on the segment 4:1 or the scale 43.

The elongated openings 11 in the knifeblock permit of adjusting the block so that the edge of the movable knife 13 shall have the same inclination as the edge of the fixed knife. 1n linotype-machines the knives are usually inclined slightly one way or the other to efiect a shearing cut in trimming the slugs instead of being set at right angles to the line of movement of the slugs. The openings 11 are of sufficient length to permit of the alinement of the movable knife with the fixed knife, whatever the inclination of the fixed knife may be.

It will be evident that the foregoing mechanism provides in simple and convenient form the spirit and scope of the invention, and

therefore I do not limit myself to the particular details of mechanism illustrated and described.

Having described my invention, what I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is-- 1. In a linotype-machine, the combination with the knife-block, of'a trimming-knife longitudinally movable thereon, means for adj usting said knife to trim slugs of different lengths, and means for imparting to said knife an independent longitudinal movement to permit two-line, letters to pass.

2. In a linotype-machine, the combination with the knife-block, of a longitudinally mow able trimming-knife having a sliding engagement with said block, a lever for moving said knife to permit two-line letters to pass, and means for effecting an adjustment of the knife longitudinally with respect to said lever whereby the knife is adapted for trimming slugs of different lengths.

3. In a linotype-machine, the combination with the knife-block, of a knife having a longitudinal movement on said block, a rack connected with the knife, agear journaled on the block and engaging said rack, an adjustinglever, and means for connecting and disconnecting the same with the gear.

4.. In a linotype-machine, the combination with the knife-block, of a knife connected to slide longitudinally and laterally relative to said block, a rack connected with the knife, a gear for operating said rack to impart a longitudinal movement to the knife, and means for moving the knife laterally without disengaging said rack and gear.

5. In a linotype-machine, the combination with the knife-block, of a knife movable longitudinally and laterally relative to said block, a rack having elongated teeth connected with said knife, a gear having shorter teeth in engagement with said rack, and means for moving the knife and rack laterally with respect to said gear.

6. In a linotype-machine, the combination with the knife-block, of a knife movable laterally and longitudinally in respect to said block, a rack connected to said knife, a gear journaled on the block and inengagement with said rack, a lever pivoted concentric with the gear, a movable tooth for connecting the lever with the gear, and a latch for holding the lever in different positions.

7. In a linotype-machine, the combination with the knife-block, of a knife movable laterally and longitudinally with respect to said block, a lever for shifting the knife longituof racks and pinions for shifting said knife toward and from the fixed knife, and means for adjusting said pinions relatively to aline the knife.

10. In a linotype-machine, the combination With the knife-block, of a knife movable laterally with respect to said block, a lever for adjusting said knife, a dial to indicate the proper adjustment of the lever, and means for adjusting the dial, for the purpose set forth.

11. In a linotype-machine, the combination with the knife-block, of a knife adjustable laterally With respect to said block, racks and pinions for adjusting said knife, shafts carrying said pinions, arms on said shafts, an adjustable link connecting said arms, and a lever for operating said shafts to adjust the knife laterally.

12. In a linotype-machine, the combination With the knife-block, of a knife adjustable laterally with respect to said block, racks and pinions for adjusting said knife, shafts carrying said pinions, arms on said shafts, an ad justable link connecting said arms, a lever carried by one of said shafts, a dial adjustable about the same shaft, and a locking-pin carried by the lever and cooperating With said dial, for the purpose set forth.

In testimony whereof I have signed my name to this specification in the presence of tWo subscribing Witnesses.

JOHN KEENAN.

Witnesses EDWARD D. HOWARD, G. H. HOWE. 

